Elfreth's Alley Museum

Did you know that the Elfreth's Alley Association used to own more property? In addition to the museum houses, the EAA had three rental properties, including this house on Bladen's Court. About three decades ago, the EAA sold these properties with preservation easements. Donna Ann Harris included the sale of these properties as a case study in her book 'New Solutions for House Museums' over a decade ago and offers an update in the 2nd edition, released last year. On April 28, Harris will join us for a conversation about her book and the legacy of the EAA's preservation easements. Register to join the conversation at elfrethsalley.org/newsolutions

#ElfrethsAlley and the surrounding neighborhood has a proud history of woodworking. The city directories of the 18th and 19th centuries list coopers, blockmakers, Windsor chairmakers, cabinetmakers, and turners on the Alley, along with several house carpenters. The trades industrialized but stayed in the neighborhood, with the John Grass Woodturning Company, formerly at 146 N 2nd Street being a prime example. In the 20th century, Philadelphia’s emerging gallery scene brought ...craft back to this neighborhood. Director Ted Maust has been reading up on this history and will be chatting about what he’s learned--and about some pieces from the Center for Art in Wood’s collection--this Friday (April 2) at 6:30pm as part of the Center’s Object Lesson series. RSVP here (https://centerforartinwood.org//object-lesson-ted-maust-d/) and check out the Center’s YouTube page (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLXUWXQ3Wh1ScHIvMrkwz9A) for other Object Lesson talks! Image Descriptions: First image shows a "ladder back" chair with an upholstered seat. There are ornaments in the middle of each "ladder." Text reads "Ladderback chair by Daniel Trotter, resident of #114 Elfreth's Alley, 1773-1795" The image is from Anne Castrodale Golovin's article "Daniel Trotter: 18th-Century Cabinetmaker." Second image shows 16 men, most of them wearing work clothes and caps. They are posing in front of a building and have arrayed various products of their work in front of them on a sheet, including a small table, bowls, a bowling pin, and a bowling ball. Text reads "Staff of John Grass Woodturning Company, circa 1911" Third image depicts the Center for Art in Wood lit up at night. Large windows show a bright gallery space. Text reads "Tune in for "Object Lesson," this Friday at 6:30pm. RSVP at link in bio" #woodworking #woodturning #woodart #woodarts #craft #traditionalcraft #antiquefurniture #contemporarycraft #virtualevent #chairmaker @centerforartinwood

Our Director, Ted, is so excited to be presenting as part of The Center for Art in Wood's "Object Lesson" series this Friday! You can RSVP to receive a Zoom link here: https://centerforartinwood.org//object-lesson-ted-maust-d/ Also definitely check out the Center's YouTube page (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLXUWXQ3Wh1ScHIvMrkwz9A) which has so many great talks!

We got a nice write-up from Nick Santangelo and Meg Kiernan at Temple University College of Liberal Arts about our podcast! Read about the project's origins and where it is going! Isabel Steven contributes a great quote which sums up one of the unique things about #ElfrethsAlley: "Elfreth’s Alley offers a much-needed voice that counters the dominant narrative told here in the city, which centers elite, white colonial men, explains Steven. The Alley, by contrast, tells the story of the working class, women and people of color, not just during the colonial era but over three centuries of the city's history and development. Thanks to Public History at Temple University for producing students like Isabel Steven and Joe Makuc!

Happy International Women's Day! We are grateful for the women who have shaped the Alley in ways big and small. Here are a few of them: - Mary R. "Dollie" Wyle Ottey: Along with residents such as Florence Greer, Ottey founded the Elfreth's Alley Association in 1934 and operated a small sandwich shop on the street from 1933-1942. You can learn more about Dollie in Episode 7 of The Alley Cast: http://www.elfrethsalley.org//episode-7-when-elfreths-alle... - Mary Smith and Sarah Melton: Dressmakers who jointly purchased #126 Elfreth's Alley in 1762 and lived and worked there together until Smith's death in 1766. Melton continued to live and work in the house, taking on boarders and eventually a new partner, Elizabeth Carr. Carr continued the business after Melton passed away in 1794. Learn more about Smith, Melton, and Carr in Episodes 1 and 2 of The Alley Cast: http://www.elfrethsalley.org//6//episode-1-the-dressmakers - Margaret: The 1810 census lists "Margt" heading up a household of three free African Americans in the rear dwelling of #130. Margaret was a washerwoman, an arduous profession we often overlook, not least because of the ease of 21st-century laundry. She and domestic workers like her were essential workers of the 19th century. Read more about Margaret on our blog: http://www.elfrethsalley.org/blog/margaret-washer - Penelope Hartshorne Batcheler: "Penny" was a rising star within the National Park Service when she began "moonlighting" on the project to reconstruct house #126 to its 18th-century appearance in the early 1960s. She would go on to work on many historic buildings in Philadelphia and beyond! We talk a bit about Hartshorne Batcheler's work at Elfreth's Alley and beyond in Episode 8 of The Alley Cast: http://www.elfrethsalley.org/podca//8/19/episode-8-renewal #InternationalWomensDay #ElfrethsAlley

Do you have a favorite spot to eat that is an essential part of your neighborhood? Submit it here and they could receive funding from the National Trust and American Express: https://savingplaces.org/historicrestaurants

Check out what we have in store for our Patreon subscribers this month! #ElfrethsAlley has patterns, samples, lessons, and examples of brick everywhere you turn! Now lets take a closer look. #patreon #historysubscriber #WalkDowntheAlley #historicmaterials #SavingPlaces When you support Elfreth's Alley with a small donation each month we give you great exclusive content AND you help us keep the history alive. Join us on #Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/elfrethsalley Music "Creative Minds" by Bensound.com #BenSound

Always one of our favorite ideas...

An interesting piece about urbanism using the history of the alley as precedent for growth without government. https://fee.org/articles/urbanism-without-government/

COMING SOON! The true story of how Philadelphians celebrated Christmas in the 19th century. The full mini-documentary will be released on Tuesday as our next #DecktheAlley gift.

The alley is highlighted on MSNBC's global list. Visit us virtually or live this year!

What does it look like to live contemporary life inside a National Historic Landmark? Three of our neighbors take you inside their homes for our virtual Deck the Alley celebration. Below is the video from our friend Neil at #112. See the other two house tours at http://www.elfrethsalley.org/deckthealleyblog//4/open-doors Catch up on all our content for Deck the Alley 2020 at http://www.elfrethsalley.org/deckthealley... Donate today at http://www.elfrethsalley.org/donate

Dear friends, Thank you for your support during this difficult year and during our Deck the Alley campaign. Each shared post and each like has meant a lot to me. We still need your help! We find ourselves not only far short of our normal donations from Deck the Alley but also short of our modest goal for this virtual campaign which has replaced it. To meet that goal, members of the board have committed to MATCH DONATIONS up to $1,000 over these LAST 3 DAYS of 2020! Make your... dollar go further by making a contribution today at elfrethsalley.org/donate. As a final gift of our Deck the Alley 2020 campaign, we have a lovely video from our friends of the Belle Canto ensemble from Council Rock High School South. These singers have filled the back gardens and narrow passageways of the Alley with carols and return with four songs here. I especially enjoyed the images from last year’s Deck the Alley included during the video’s final number. Gratefully, Ted Maust Associate Director You can find all of the Deck the Alley content at elfrethsalley.org/deckthealley or check out the YouTube playlist we made: https://youtube.com/playlist

Merry Christmas! Our friends, The Bachmann Players lent us their talents and recorded this rendition of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" which we share with you today! Have a merry--and safe--Christmas! #DecktheAlley #HappyHolidays #FromOurHomestoYours

Check back tomorrow (here on Facebook or at elfrethsalley.org/deckthealley) for glimpses inside 3 of the homes on Elfreth's Alley/Bladen's Court! #deckthealley #openhouse #nationalhistoriclandmark #21stcenturylife #18thcenturyhome #historichouse #historichomes #urbanhistory

Looking for a unique gift? We've got you covered! We have assembled a holiday gift guide highlighting some of the most interesting gifts from Philadelphia's online museum stores! www.elfrethsalley.org/blog/2020/12/2/holidaygiftguide2020... Let us know if you find any real winners we overlooked and we may add to this list! #museumstore #holidaygifts #holidaygiftguide #philadelphia #shoplocal #ShopSmall #shopmuseums #alliwantforchristmas #MuseumStoreSunday

Our for you today is a slideshow of winter on #ElfrethsAlley over the years. Here’s a brief clip. See the whole thing at www.elfrethsalley.org/deckthealley Sign up for our newsletter at www.elfrethsalley.org/newslettersignup... Find gifts for the people in your life at www.elfrethsalley.org/giftshop Support our work at www.elfrethsalley.org/donate #givingtuesday #nationalhistoriclandmark #oldcityphilly #nonprofitorganization #oldstreet #historyhappenedhere #thisplacematters #vintagephotos #nostalgia

Deck the Alley: Winters Past - https://mailchi.mp//deck-the-alley-from-our-homes-to-yours